NHTSA Complaint #10986232 — 2012 FIAT 500

MY 2012 FIAT 500 WITH 36,298 MILES ON OD HAD CLUTCH FAILURE. I RECEIVED S34 RECALL FROM FIAT AND HAD RECALL WORK COMPLETE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALLED PART COULD CAUSE WEAR ON CLUTCH PLATE AND THAT THE RECALL WAS CORRECTING THE ISSUE. THREE WEEKS LATER, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CLUTCH FELT FUNNY AND TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSTIC STATES THAT BEARING-CLUTCH RELEASE AND DISC & PRESSURE PLATE NEED REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD NO BEARING ON THE CLUTCH FAILURE..."IT'S NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR LIKE BRAKE PADS AND TIRES." I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MY SERVICE REP AND FIAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BEEN TOLD THE FAILURE IS A "WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE". I HAVE REPEATEDLY STATED THAT I UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT THE RECALLED PART WAS SAID BY BOTH THE SERVICE PROVIDER AND FIAT, TO CAUSE WEAR ON COMPONENT (WEAR AND TEAR) PARTS OF THE CLUTCH. I MAINTAIN THAT THE FAULTY PART HAS ACCELERATED WEAR AND TEAR ON THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CLUTCH SHOULD BE COVERED BY FIAT. FIAT CUSTOMER SERVICE STATES THEY ARE INVESTIGATING MY CLAIM BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. AT THIS TIME, I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR THE $1200 REPAIR WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ACCELERATED WEAR AND TEAR DUE TO A DEFECTIVE, RECALLED PART. PLEASE ADVISE.